Beginning with Prayer

Cecely here:
We have had two times of prayer together so far. The first one was last Saturday. It was a prayer breakfast at the Clarks', and the Hardins had already scheduled some time with Alex, so they couldn't make it, so we had to call in some replacements: we asked Heather and a friend of hers, Bethany Bates, to come and help eat up the extra eggs and biscuits and bacon that Jon and his ilk missed out on! Anyway, after we ate, we prayed. We thank Him a lot for what He has already done, we pray about daily life concerns, and always we ask for more contacts and more opportunities. You can join us in asking for that.

Today we had another great time of prayer in the Davises beautiful new home. Again, we petitioned Him for contacts, "ways in" with people, discernment to be able to recognize those who will be willing to share the message, and we enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship, and then some good watermelon, grapes and delicious Josh-made brownies. Too bad Jason missed it because he was home with 100 degrees. But he called over there a time or two so that we would not forget that he was home missing out! And I did bring him some brownies, which sort of melted into a lump in my hot purse in the 104 degree heat (wow! the weather is even hotter than Jason's fever).

Clarks: Jason is sick

I've had a cold for several days. Apparently, it's Josh's fault... something he brought back with him from Shenzhen. He's just barely over it himself, actually.
Anyway, I'm not going to say much today. Just one thing... If you're healthy today, stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving. Whenever I have even something as relatively small as a cold, I realize how precious our health is.

This year and Last year

Lately I have been thinking about the difference from this year and last year. This year is much better! Why?
I think the biggest difference is that we have a home. Last year when we got off the plane we were told that we would be staying in a hotel for a while. I really tried not to grumble, but I could not even really unpack—we hand no place to put things. All of our suitcases were stacked in the corners of the rooms. I wish I had thought to take pictures. This year I unpacked all the suitcases the next day.

Last year we were pretty tired, but couldn’t stay cooped up in the hotel all the time, so we went out. We really needed to explore the city some. We did, and we got lost! I mostly remember that it was VERY hot. We all got pretty dehydrated, which did not help the jet lag! This year, we have gone out in the heat some, but so far we have not got lost. We know how to get around the city now.

Last year all the kids got sick! It was terrible. This year so far (knock on wood) we have been pretty healthy.

Last year, while we were still in the hotel, we did not even have a way to do laundry. We washed clothes at Josh and Yan’s place at least once. We also hand washed some things. We did not even have a balcony to hang the clothes so we hung them around the room and on a rack that we borrowed from Josh and Gao Yan.
This year, I was able to wash clothes the day after arriving, and hang them out, and the Ai yi helped wash clothes too.

Last year we did not really have internet access for several weeks. This year we got on an unsecure network for 2 days but now have our own internet, and a way around the great firewall! So we are able to stay in touch with loved ones on the other side of the world

Last year, we were in a dingy, dark, cramped hotel room and then we moved into two apartments across the hall from each other until they broke the hole in the wall. Once we were in the apartment, the kids slept on a mattress on the floor in the room next to us.
This year we came home to our bright and clean apartment. The kids each have their own beds.

Last year we knew no one (except our team) in the city. This year we have friends and even more possibilities. Jon has already picked his studies with Alex back up!

To me it is amazing to see the difference. This year is much better than last year. We are excited about the potential for the new year! Please continue to pray for us, that doors will be open and that we will find those seeking Him.

Clarks: Oh, so nice to be back...

Hangzhou... It's our home for these few years (Lord willing), and for that we are really thankful. It's a great place. The flowers -- Lotus blossoms -- are bloomed out on the lake; the air is warm and moist (euphamism for: hot and muggy); and the people, as always, are full of warmth and vigor.
I must say, however, that we loved our few short days in Chattanooga. Those of you who live there year-round are certainly blessed, as well. Great city. Fun. Friendly. And of course, there's the Greater Quitman area, including the twin cities of Higden-Greers Ferry, where we (and a few more than 1000 other people) call "home" in the most-lasting sense.
Every place unique. Each having its strengths and weaknesses. All places the Creator and Sustainer has given us to roam and dwell.
Which makes me think of Jesus: He got one brief chance to walk the face of the earth, and in those too-short years he never travelled more than maybe a few hundred miles (?) from his birthplace. He never walked around the famed West Lake; he never climbed Lookout Mountain and never traversed Missionary Ridge; he never went boating (much less skiing!) with Peter and the guys down at the Narrows.
And at the same time -- before there was time -- he fashioned them all.
He gives me (and surely most of you) the chance to cover more ground and see more sights than his earthly body and eyes ever did; yet we humble ourselves before him knowing that he is the one through whom all these places and wonders were made.
Go outside today, if you can, and say "thanks." I know I will.

We're back on!

It looks as if we have found a way to be on the blog again. It has taken some cleverness to get around the Great Firewall that tries to block anything "blog" and/or anything social networking (like facebook), but alas, I think you'll be seeing all of us back online, full speed ahead.

In the USA

I have been told that I need to update my blog. I wrote a whole page of stuff, but for some reason I cannot copy and paste it into blogger. Strange! I guess I will just have to re-type it. Here goes....
We are in the US now. The trip was pretty good. We left Hangzhou Friday after lunch. The school provided us with a van to the airport. We decided to stay in a hotel in the airport instead of leaving HZ at 4am. Our flight was for 8:30 (ish) on Saturday morning. The flight was about 13- 14 hours. The kids did pretty well, but they only slept about 2 or 3 hours. We landed in Detroit and had plenty of time to clear customs and all. We ate hot dogs for lunch!
We boarded the plane and all of the kids were asleep before take-off! That flight was about 1 1/2 hours and they slept the whole time.
We were met at the airport by my folks, Jon's parents, and Staci, Mitch, and Kelly. We grabbed our bags and went to Cracker Barrel. The kids enjoyed their cereal and Jon and I loved our sweet tea!

For the most part, I have been pretty clear-headed. I have not had much trouble sleeping. I have woke up pretty early a few days, but we are just about on a normal schedule. Jet lag can be terrible, but this time it has not been too bad.

Jon and I both took some pills called "No Jet Lag". I really think they helped.

Jon has been pretty busy with fireworks since we have been back, but the kids and I have occasionally felt strange to be back. It is usually just little things that we notice.

Eryn keeps announcing that the public restrooms are Western potties!
I keep forgetting that I can use the tap water to wet my toothbrush and rise my mouth!
We love getting drinks out of water fountains.

We had VBS in Henderson this week. I think that was perfect timing. It gave the kids something exciting and fun to do in the evening, when they normally would have been very sleepy. I am sure that has helped them get back on schedule.

I will try to upload some pictures to the blog in the next few days!

Yeah we are glad to be back, we needed a rest, but I am also very excited about next semester and going back in August. We are going to have a great year!

blocked! and dates!

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that blogger was blocked. I was pretty sad because it meant that I could not post and I could not read my friend's blogs. Today someone gave the name of a proxy server and volia! I am back!!

We will move into our new apartment on Friday. We are excited, but I am also a little anxious. We will probably not have the internet at the new apartment until we come back, so I won't be online quite as much.

It doesn't look like I will be able to post pictures right now, but I will try to add some when we are no longer blocked. It is possible that we will not be blocked once a certain date has passed. We will see.


Get out your calanders and mark some of these dates.

We will travel to the US on June 20! We will arrive in the US just two hours after we left! (not really).
We plan to be in Henderson on Sunday June 21! We also hope to attend VBS that night. However we will be very jetlagged so who knows.
We will also be in Henderson June 28

Jenn and the kids will be in Milan June 29-July 4.
Henderson July 5
July 12 ?
Then we will travel to Hixson for a few weeks
we should be at Clear Creek on Sunday July 19, and 26,and August 2.
We will be back in Henderson on Aug. 9 and we leave for China on Aug 11.

If you have any questions about any specific dates, feel free to ask. We will try to see as many people as we can, but remember we ar human and can only do so much...ha ha.
We are super excited about seeing everyone in person very soon.
Please pray for safe travels and smooth transitions!